Comparing this June to June 2013, paddle sport sales rose 11% to total $76 million at retail. Units edged up just 2% and average retail-selling prices jumped 8%, according to the most recent figures from Leisure Trends.
The vast majority of the growth came from chain stores which surged 17% in units, 26% in retail-selling price and 48% in dollars to total over $27 million at retail. Specialty stores, with $42 million in sales, fell 6% in units but edged up 2% in dollars thanks to average retail-selling prices shooting up 8%. Online units dipped 3% and dollars crashed 23% thanks to the 21% drop in average retail-selling price.
This June, boat sales grew 18% in units and 17% in dollars to reach $47M. Kayaks, with 70% share of all boat dollars, increased 18% and 19% in respective units and dollars. Stand up paddleboards jumped 28% in units but just 16% in dollars since retail-selling prices dropped 10%, says the research firm.
Year-to-date, paddle industry dollars grew 10% with every category but apparel seeing dollar gains. Only Internet dollars declined among the channels, down 20%, despite units sliding just 1%.
June 2014 over June 2013 category changes in dollar sales by channel:
All Specialty dollar sales up 2%
Specialty boat dollar sales +6%
Specialty paddle dollar sales -3%
Specialty accessory dollar sales -4%
Specialty apparel dollar sales -26%
All Chain dollar sales up 48%
Chain boat dollar sales +79%
Chain paddle dollar sales +30%
Chain accessory dollar sales +19%
Chain apparel dollar sales +8%
All Internet dollar sales down 23%
Internet boat dollar sales -35%
Internet paddle dollar sales -21%
Internet accessory dollar sales -1%
Internet apparel dollar sales -16%
